A DAY of good friends, food and wine raised over $50,000 for the Burren Junction public school on August 31.
The money raised will go towards funding the school's fourth teacher for this year and additional teaching requirements for the next two years.
With an influx of students at the start of this year, Burren Junction parents and citizens (P and C) member Sarah Ball said the committee all agreed they'd need a fourth teacher to help keep class room sizes smaller.
With numbers just shy of being eligible for a fourth government funded teacher, Mrs Ball said the committee decided they'd fundraise to help the school pay for the teacher independently.
"We wanted a smaller class structure and didn't want the teachers to have to teach across different stages," she said.
With the help of seven very generous sponsors, the P and C committee organised the Landmark Lazy Long Lunch which attracted 150 people from all over the district.
For $80 a ticket, guests were given the opportunity to socialise on the river over a drink and catered lunch on Mrs Ball and her husband Duncan's property "Gorian", Burren Junction.
Mrs Ball said although the day's purpose was to raise money for the school, it also allowed locals in the area who've been having a tough time to get off their properties and have a drink with friends.
"Out here we're in our second year of drought, everyone needed a social outing," she said.
"I think that's why our sponsors were so generous, because they knew how tough it was for everyone."
Mrs Ball said Landmark, AMPS Agribusiness, National Australian Bank, Fidley Wines, Nufarm, Dubbo City Toyota, Gilgandra Toyota and Woodhams Petroleum all donated significant amounts of money to the cause and helped make a day for a community that really needed it.